Marlee Silva’s career collapsed with a single notification.

Marlee Silva was 24 and on the cusp of a national book tour when her phone lit up—for all the wrong reasons. One accusation—branding her a “late-identifying” Aboriginal woman—ignited a vicious online pile-on. Overnight, friends fell silent, brands cut ties, and strangers dredged through her sister’s teenage Instagram posts, turning a few screenshots into a spectacle that almost destroyed Marlee’s career and sense of belonging.

Five years on, Marlee has rebuilt and thrived: she’s now one of Australia’s leading voices in media and sport, a mentor to young women, and a presenter on Nine’s Wide World of Sports. But she has never spoken publicly about the toll those weeks took—on her mental health, her family, and her trust in community—until now. In this raw, unflinching conversation, Marlee reveals what it feeling ls like when the internet decides you don’t deserve your platform, how she clawed her way back, and why she still believes in the power of storytelling to heal.

With thanks to Marlee Silva. You can find her podcast Marlee & Me here.

Next week, business woman Sophie Cachia joins us in studio.

The Pile-On is created and hosted by Clare Stephens.

Produced by Lize Ratliff.

For guest suggestions or feedback, message Clare on Instagram @clare.stephenss

Subscribe to Clare’s substack NQR (Not Quite Right) here.

Find her debut novel The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done - about a young woman at the centre of a vicious online pile-on here.

Please remember you don’t have to go through this alone. Reaching out for help can feel difficult, but support is available 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

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